Hopefully, some of?this information along with sources will help to clear up some of the misinformation that has been posted, copied, and recopied over the years. In July 2007, my husband and I went to Lancaster County, PA to do some research on my ADAMS and SCHMIDT/SMITH families. With the help of the librarian at the Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley Library we were able to locate the land where Peter SMITH and his family lived in Earl Township, Lancaster County, PA. We also visited the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church in East Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, PA where John ADAMS was born, John ADAMS and Eve SCHMIDT/SMITH were married, John and Eve ADAMS son John ADAMS was born, and where six of Peter and Barbara SCHMIDT's children were born. We also visited the Ephrata Cloisters where it is believed that Peter SMITH was baptized by Conrad Beissel, a German Baptist Brethren, about 1748. The records for the Ephrata Cloisters does show a Peter SMITH as being a member of the Ephrata Cloister community, however they have no record of Peter being baptized there. Peter Schmidt/Smith, his wife Barbara, and most likely their first four children, George, Magdalen, Margaret, and Eve who were probably born in the German Palatinate, arrived at Philadelphia, PA on 18 Sept. 1733 aboard the ship "Pennsylvania Merchant", John Stedman, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Plymouth. Peter Smidt signed his name with a "P" as his mark. At the Courthouse of Philadelphia, September 18, 1733. The Palatines did this day take and subscribe the Oaths to the Government. Peter Smit again signed his name with a "P" as his mark. (Source: Strassburger's "Pennsylvania German Pioneers", pages 124-126, [List 32 B] and [List 32 C] dated: Sept. 18th 1733) NOTE: Peter SMITH of Rowan County, NC signed his will with a "P" for his mark, will dated 19 Sept. 1767 and proved in the Rowan County Court by George SMITH and Richard WALTON on 7 Feb. 1775 (Will Book A, page 150). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On 20 Feb. 1734 Peter SMITH entered a Warrant for 100 acres of land in Lancaster County, PA. (Source: Pennsylvania Land Records, Warrant Registers, Lancaster County, page 189) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Records of the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, East Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, PA lists the following children as children of Peter SCHMIDT: A daughter, Anna Maria (Mary) SCHMIDT, born 4 Dec. 1736 and baptized 9 Mar. 1737. A son and daughter, twins: Joh. Peter (Peter) SCHMIDT and Susanna Catarina SCHMIDT, born 8 Apr. 1739 and baptized 3 July 1739. A daughter, Maria Eliesabetha (Elizabeth) SCHMIDT, born 19 Feb. 1741 and baptized 26 Apr. 1741. A son, Joh. Nicolauss SCHMIDT, born 3 Nov. 1742 and baptized 6 Dec. 1742. A son, Johannes (John) SCHMIDT, born 12 June 1748 and baptized 19 June 1748. (Source: William J. Hinke and Frederick S. Weiser, "Sources & Documents of the Penna. Germans: Vol. 5", p. 37) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Records of the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, East Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, PA, the marriage of Peter and Barbara SCHMIDT's daughter Maria Eva (Eve) SCHMIDIN and Johannes (John) ADAM (German spelling for ADAMS) on 8 April 1751. (Source: William J. Hinke and Frederick S. Weiser, "Sources & Documents of the Penna. Germans: Vol. 5", p. 118) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Records of the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, East Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, PA, lists the birth of Johannes (John) ADAM(S) and Maria Eva (Eve) SCHMIDT son Johannes (John) ADAM(S), born 29 Jan. 1752 and baptized 22 Mar. 1752. Sponsors: Johannes JOHNSON and Margaretha SCHMIDTIN. (Source: William J. Hinke and Frederick S. Weiser, "Sources & Documents of the Penna. Germans: Vol. 5", p. 75) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peter SMITH and John ADAMS both show up the first time on the 1755 Rowan County, NC Tax List. Both Peter SMITH and John ADAMS are also listed on the 1759 and 1761 Rowan County, NC Tax Lists. (Source: Ancestry.com, North Carolina Census, 1790-1890 for Rowan County) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John ADAMS, husband of Eve SCHMIDT/SMITH, died sometime between 23 April 1762, when John ADAMS served as a jury member, and 24 July 1762, when letters of Administration were granted to Eve ADAMS, wife & relic to John ADAMS, dec'd. and to George SMITH. (Source: Jo White Linn, "Abstracts of Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Rowan County, NC, 1753-1762", pages 147, 148, & 151) ************************************* Linda Monticelli ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com